About OPAL Fotoceramika
Opal Fotoceramika is the largest manufacturer of photos on porcelain and crystal in Poland and one of the largest European companies in the ceramic photography industry for monuments.
We produce photos on porcelain and glass in over 1,000 different shapes and formats. We are the only ones in Poland who work based on the certified Quality Management System ISO 9001. We cooperate with over 5,000 companies in Poland and abroad, including the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Slovakia and Ukraine. We are proud of the fact that our company sets standards in Poland and Europe.
Our history
See how we have developed over the last 30 years and what innovations we have introduced to the photoceramics market.
1992 - 1995
1995 - 2016
2016 - 2019
2019 - 2020
2020 - obecnie
Opal Company Starts
The company was originally called OPAL Studio Fotografii Komputerowej and dealt with taking pictures on T-shirts, mugs, plates, etc. We were the first in Poland to use a high-quality color laser printer for this purpose, which had the advantage over sublimation printers that the pictures on T-shirts did not fade in the sun or in the wash.
Start of work on color photos on ceramics
In the times when new printing techniques began to reach Poland and even daily newspapers were already published in color, we began work on making a full-color tombstone photo. The basic problem that we solved
OPAL is the first in Poland to take color gravestone photos
After many months of trials, tests and failures, we have mastered the screen printing technique using ceramic paints, fused into ceramics at high temperature, completely resistant to weather conditions. We were the first in Poland to take full-color gravestone photos.
We were the first and only in Poland to test our photos at the Institute of Glass and Ceramics in Warsaw
At first, our photos were received with great reserve. This was due to the fact that customers, mainly stonemasons, were put off by coloured tombstone photos. This was because
We introduced a unique Satisfaction Guarantee
From the very beginning of our activity, we have adopted the principle that we provide a Satisfaction Guarantee for our services, which means that if a customer is dissatisfied with our work, they can send it back and we will refund 100% of its value. We are aware that, for obvious reasons, people approach the photos we take very emotionally. We respect that.
We were the first to introduce computer retouching of gravestone photographs
Since we used computers and laser printers to make screen-printed ceramic decals, the natural consequence was to introduce digital photo retouching instead of the previous manual method
We were the first in Poland to offer online orders for gravestone photographs
In 1996, we only took a few photos sent by e-mail. As it turned out, only a handful of stonemasonry companies, which were our clients, used e-mail at that time. For most, it was just the beginning of everyday life.
We were the first in Poland to use the DuPont Cromalin system for photos on porcelain
Cromalin was an analogue test print system used in printing to verify colours before the main offset printing. At OPAL we used this system to make ceramic decals
We were the first to introduce photos on Italian porcelain to the Polish market
Porcelain tiles for tombstone photos were produced in Poland by pouring them into chalk molds. Such tiles are characterized by a large convexity, which distorts the image of the photograph. Additionally, the chalk molds wear out during porcelain production, which causes
We were the first to offer pressed tiles 7x10 cm and 8x11 cm
In cooperation with Stiltecno, we commissioned the production of steel molds in Italy, exclusively for our needs, for the production of tiles in the sizes 7x10 and 8x11 cm. These formats have become a classic on the Polish market and are still the most popular choice among our customers.
We have introduced cheap photos from TOPAZ
Since companies offering cheap, poor quality gravestone photos made with the use of photocopiers have appeared on the market, we decided to open a similar company. The goal was simple, to give customers a choice: the highest quality photoceramics from OPAL or photos at the lowest price from TOPAZ
Topaz Fotoceramika ceased operations in 2021.
We are the first photoceramic company from Poland to enter foreign markets
We are taking part in the stone fair in Nuremberg, introducing our offer to the European market.
First gravestone photos on crystal in Poland
After several months of testing, we are the first company in Poland to introduce photos on crystal to our offer. Over time, crystals began to gain popularity, and currently their thinner version is one of the most popular products.
We were the first company in Europe to offer interactive QR codes for graves
Intrigued by the development of the then new QR code technology, we decided to enable firing small square porcelains on which we place codes leading to a review of photos, memories, or a gallery of works of the deceased, so that the visit becomes an even more personal experience.
The only photoceramic company in Poland with ISO 9001 Certificate
As the first and, so far, the only photoceramic company in Poland, we have introduced the Enterprise Quality Management System ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015 in the field of taking photos on ceramics and crystal, approved by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, LRQA, Birmingham, UK.
We have introduced thin tombstone tiles
We are the first in the country to offer photos on 1 mm thick ceramics, which maintain all the resistance parameters required for photos on monuments.
Opal brand refresh - new logo, corporate colors, unified communication
After many discussions, we decided to rebrand our brand. Despite almost 30 years on the market, we changed our logotype and chose a set of colors that will now make it easier to identify our brand. This process took us many long months of creative and logical work, as well as the process of familiarizing customers and contractors with this change.
We reached for artificial intelligence
We are probably the first photoceramic company to use AI algorithms to improve the quality of tombstone photos, especially in the field of sharpening and coloring older photos
We are the first in the world to implement an application for ordering gravestone photos
We are developing and introducing to the market our own, intuitive and fully functional application, allowing our contractors to place orders via mobile phone. The entire process, based on order templates, can be carried out very quickly and conveniently. We are the only photoceramic company in the world offering such a solution.
What's next? We'll let you know!
Tombstone photos for a monument with a satisfaction and durability guarantee
For over 30 years, we have been making tombstone photos on porcelain. Our many years of experience in the production of photoceramics have allowed us to refine our production technology. We are proud of the quality of the services we offer.
Our priority is customer satisfaction, which is why we provide a satisfaction guarantee for our services. Our unique guarantee is that if a customer is dissatisfied with the product, they can send it back to us, and we will improve it or refund the money without unnecessary questions.
We care about the trust of our customers, which is why we make every effort to ensure that our customer service is at the highest level.
Why is it worth working with us?